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  • 712 large format pages,
    8 1/2 x 11 inch format
  • Over 1,000 never-before-
    published photographs from the Korean War era
  • Extensive glossary of terms and slang used by pilots and airmen during the Korean War
  • List of more than 3,500 Korean War veterans of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing.
  • Fewer than 200 copies remain of the first edition.
  • TO PURCHASE Truckbusters From Dogpatch

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Korean War Air-Ground Glossary

Note: the Korean-War Air-Ground Glossary is under construction. New pages and images are being added daily.  Find terms or phrases more easily by using the Google Search Engine above.  Click on the Truckbusters From Dogpatch web site button.

We welcome your suggestions for new slang or terms from the Korean War.  Use the Contact link above to submit your term. 

The Korean War Air Combat Glossary includes military terms, slang and definitions used by the Korean War veterans to whom Truckbusters From Dogpatch is dedicated.

To help establish additional military and air force history resources about the so-called "Forgotten War," the Glossary also includes biographical information, Korean War stories and photographs of many leaders of the 18th Fighter-Wing, Fifth Air Force and other senior military leaders whose decisions affected the missions and operations of the 18th Wing, 18th Fighter-Bomber Group and the Wing's associated squadrons. The Glossary includes many photographs and video of 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing Korean War air combat operations when they were flying the P-51 Mustang and the F-86 Sabrejet aircraft.

The list includes the names and where known, biographical information about those pilots and Airmen who lost their lives during 37 months of Korean War combat. The information is far from complete and will certainly be expanded through the efforts of the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing Association and others.

The names of Two Squadron, South African Air Force (SAAF) fliers are also included.

Information on American pilots is drawn from the files of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing Association, family records and recollections, and, where possible, from unit history reports. Sadly, even the unit histories were often incomplete or hasty in recording the status or circumstances of a pilot and his loss to the unit. When the unit history does mention the pilot, however briefly, that notation is included.

Excerpted from over 3,500 terms and definitions found in Truckbusters From Dogpatch

Letters: A-Al ♦ Am-Az ♦ B-Bi ♦ Bi-Bz ♦ C-Cl♦ Co-Cz ♦ D ♦ E ♦ F-Fl ♦ Fm-Fz ♦ G ♦ Ha-Hf ♦ Hg-Hz ♦ I ♦ J ♦ K ♦ L ♦ M-Me ♦ Mf-Mz ♦ N ♦ O ♦ Pa-Pi ♦ Pj-Pz ♦ Q ♦ Ra-Ri ♦ Rj-Rz ♦ Sa-Sh ♦ Si-Sz ♦ Ta-Tg ♦ Th-Tz ♦ U ♦ V ♦ W ♦ X ♦ Y ♦ Z

- Ta-Tg -


T/C - Top of Climb

T/D - Top of Descent

T/O - Tables of Organization

T/O (TO) - Takeoff

T/O&E - Table of Organization and Equipment, i.e. the mix of equipment and supplies that had been determined was required for a unit/squadron to perform its missions.

North Korean tank destroyed by naplam. Truckbusters from Dogpatch: The Combat Diary of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing in the Korean War, 1950-1953, ISBN 0-9640138-2-7 is the true-life account of the U.S. Air Force’s 18th Wing--12th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 12th Squadron, 18th Fighter Bomber Wing, 18th Wing, 2 Squadron SAAF, 2 Squadron South African Air Force, Flying Cheetahs, 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 67th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 67th Squadron, Fifth Air Force--from 1950 to 1953, the period of the Korean War (including: korean war battles, korean war history, korean war photographs, korean war stories, korean war veterans, and korean war videos), during which their air-combat heroism helped save South Korea from defeat by the North Korean and Chinese Communist Forces. The Truckbusters of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing flew the venerable P-51/F-51 Mustang for much of the Korean War, then transitioned into the F-86 Sabrejet, changing the history of Korean War and the U.S. Air Force in the process. Told as much as possible in the words of the heroic men themselves, this riveting chronicle of the “Forgotten War” is illuminated by more than 1,000 Korean War photographs, Korean War videos, Korean War Veterans’ memoirs and scrapbooks, and previously-classified U.S. Air Force military documents. By telling the 18th Wing’s Korean War story in such a vivid, tangible way, Truckbusters from Dogpatch author CAPT Tracy D. Connors, brings readers directly into the harrowing world of the unit’s fighter pilots, mechanics, medics, supply sergeants, and other unforgettable characters.
North Korean tank destroyed by naplam.

T-34 - The T-34/85 was a 29-ton, Christie-type, well armored, diesel powered, medium tank mounting an 85-mm gun and used extensively by North Korean and Chinese Communist Forces in Korea. Its bogie wheels were individually sprung and fitted with rubber tires. The rear sprockets drove the tank treads. See Su-76 and BA-64.

TAC - Tactical Air Command

TACAN - Tactical Air Navigation system. An ultra-high frequency electronic navigation aid system that provides suitably equipped aircraft with a continuous indication of bearing and distance to the selected Tacan station. Used by military aircraft.

TACC - Tactical Air Control Center. On July 14, 1950, General Partridge created the 6132nd Tactical Air Control Group (Provisional). By July 23rd the 6132nd was able to establish a Tactical Air Control Center adjacent to the Joint Operations Center at Taegu and took over the operation of control station “Mellow.” See Mellow Control.

Tacon, Col. Avelin P. - Commander, 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 31 July 1953-17 July 1954, succeeding Col. Maurice L. Martin.

TACP - Tactical Air Control Parties, provided ground control of close air support in concert with airborne T-6 aircraft “Mosquitos.” Each TACP consisted of an experienced pilot officer, who served as a forward air controller (FAC), and the airmen needed to operate and maintain the party’s vehicular-mounted communications equipment. Troops on the ground could communicate directly with airborne forward air controllers via the SCR-300 “walkie-talkie” if necessary. Combat squadrons were required to supply pilots for temporary duty with the TACPs. “TACP still necessitates the absence of three officers per each 21-day period on a TDY basis with ground force elements. Their duties in the main are concerned with the coordination of air strikes by fighter type aircraft in close support of such ground units.”

Tactical formation - See Formations.

TADC - Tactical Air Direction Center

Tadpoles - Tactical Air-Direction Posts.

Taejon - Located 100 miles south of Seoul and 130 miles northwest of Pusan, Taejon was the sixth largest city in South Korea.

TAF - Terminal Area Forecast.

TAGO - The Adjutant General’s Office

TALONS - Korean War outline plan (Aug-Sept 1951) for a ground offensive to bolster the Eighth Army’s eastern front. As the fight for Bloody Ridge continues, Gen. James Van Fleet, Eighth Army commander, developed a new operation called Talons. Its overall objective is to straighten the Kansas defense line running to the northeast. It called for advances of from one to 15 miles. On Sept. 5, when General Van Fleet is advised of the losses in taking Bloody Ridge, he immediately cancels Talons because it will require similar fighting. He is unwilling to pay the cost in casualties that will be required to make the advances.

Major James Peek. Truckbusters from Dogpatch: The Combat Diary of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing in the Korean War, 1950-1953, ISBN 0-9640138-2-7 is the true-life account of the U.S. Air Force’s 18th Wing--12th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 12th Squadron, 18th Fighter Bomber Wing, 18th Wing, 2 Squadron SAAF, 2 Squadron South African Air Force, Flying Cheetahs, 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 67th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 67th Squadron, Fifth Air Force--from 1950 to 1953, the period of the Korean War (including: korean war battles, korean war history, korean war photographs, korean war stories, korean war veterans, and korean war videos), during which their air-combat heroism helped save South Korea from defeat by the North Korean and Chinese Communist Forces. The Truckbusters of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing flew the venerable P-51/F-51 Mustang for much of the Korean War, then transitioned into the F-86 Sabrejet, changing the history of Korean War and the U.S. Air Force in the process. Told as much as possible in the words of the heroic men themselves, this riveting chronicle of the “Forgotten War” is illuminated by more than 1,000 Korean War photographs, Korean War videos, Korean War Veterans’ memoirs and scrapbooks, and previously-classified U.S. Air Force military documents. By telling the 18th Wing’s Korean War story in such a vivid, tangible way, Truckbusters from Dogpatch author CAPT Tracy D. Connors, brings readers directly into the harrowing world of the unit’s fighter pilots, mechanics, medics, supply sergeants, and other unforgettable characters.
Major James Peek is proud of his 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron F-51. His radio call sign was "Tamerlane."

TAMERLANE - A radio call sign for the 12th Squadron.

TAPE - Tactical Air Power Evaluation

TAPE - Tactical Air Power Evaluation Office. Organized and coordinated WEE Teams (see) for the Fifth Air Force. The TAPE Office was “organized to collect, tabulate, and present a wide variety of data pertaining to Fifth Air Force operations.

TARCAP - Tactical Air Reconnaissance Combat Air Patrol

Tarzon mission - The tarzon bomb was a six-ton version of the half-ton razon bomb (remotely controlled, radio-guided bomb). B-29 bombardiers managed to destroy 15 bridges in Korea with Razon bombs by the end of 1950, when the much larger 12,000-lb. Tarzon bomb was put into operational use. On January 13, 1951 a B-29 knocked two spans out of the important railway bridge at Kang-gye using the new 12,000-pound radio-controlled Tarzon bomb dropped from 15,000 feet. Overall, the tarzon bomb did not live up to expectations. However, these bombs were the precursors of today’s precision-guided weapons.

TAS - True airspeed. IAS corrected for altitude and outside air temperature, as opposed to IAS, or indicated air speed. The speed at which the airplane is actually moving through the air.

Task Force Smith - The first U.S. ground unit to fight in the Korean War.

Task Force - A term widely used during the Korean War. It was used by the Army to identify an ad hoc organization composed of a variety of units temporarily assembled under a single designated commander to accomplish a specific mission. For the Navy, “task force,” and “task group” were subdivisions of the fleet.

Taylor, Gen. Maxwell Davenport - General Taylor replaced Gen. James A. Van Fleet as commander of the Eighth U.S. Army in Korea, Feb. 11, 1953.

TBD - To Be Determined

TBO - Time Between Overhauls

TBS - To Be Specified

TC - Troop Carrier

TCG - Troop Carrier Group

TDY - Temporary Duty assignment, usually less than 30 days. DS or Detached Service was often more than 30 days.

Telecon - Teletypewriter conference

TEMP - Temperature

TF - Task Force (Navy)

TG - Task Group (Navy)

TGT - Target